Biggest problem in EU is UK, says ex German leader

FORMER German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder last night accused Britain of causing the “biggest problems” in the European Union.

He savaged the UK for demanding influence over EU policies while refusing to join the euro single currency.

He also called for Brussels to get more powers to run Europe’s economy but insisted only eurozone nations like Germany and France should make the decisions.

Tory MPs last night saw this and his call for a “United States of Europe” as further evidence that Britain should quit the EU altogether.

In an interview with Der Spiegel, Mr Schroeder said: “Great Britain causes the biggest problems. It is not in the euro but the British always want to have a say in the shaping of the economic bloc.”

He said a new EU finance minister should be “controlled” by a “special committee” formed from the members of the eurozone. He said: “One must practice the renouncement of national sovereignty.

“From the European Commission, we should make a government which would be supervised by the European Parliament. And that means the United States of Europe.”

Tory backbench MP Bill Cash said: “What an absolute nerve. Britain fought in two world wars to try to build a democratic and peaceful Europe. What has happened is that now Europe has turned totally undemocratic. Far from being the problem, we are the solution.”

Mr Cash, chairman of the Commons European Scrutiny Committee, today publishes a pamphlet calling for a referendum on Britain’s EU future.

It echoes the Daily Express crusade for a referendum on Britain quitting the EU. Some 25,000 have signed up to our crusade on the Government e-petition website. If 100,000 sign up the issue will be considered for a full debate in Parliament.